Rebounding and turnovers tell story of Thunder's loss to Golden State Warriors

OAKLAND, Calif. — Two spots on the final stat sheet stood out as eyesores while telling the story of the Thunder's 100-94 loss at Golden State on Sunday night.

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks, right, talks with referee Scott Foster (48) in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011. The Warriors won 100-94. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

The categories were rebounding and turnovers.

Oklahoma City got out-rebounded 47-33, which included a 20-2 advantage on the offensive end and led to the Warriors outscoring the Thunder 22-4 in second-chance points. And the Thunder turned the ball over 20 times, which led to 20 Golden State points.

A third tell-all tally was the field goal attempts. The Warriors had 99. The Thunder had 59.

When you take those figures into account, it's hard to believe the Thunder was even in the game, let alone lost by only six.

“When a team has 40 more shots than you because of our turnovers and offensive rebounds, that's hard to overcome,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks.

The Thunder trailed by just one after Jeff Green swished a 3-pointer with 1:07 remaining.

But in the final minutes, the same problems that plagued OKC throughout the game led to its downfall down the stretch.

The Thunder couldn't contain Warriors guard Stephen Curry. The second-year guard zipped his way into the teeth of OKC's defense and found open teammates with ease. Each time he penetrated, he set up an open shot that forced the Thunder to scramble to recover.

Curry set up a Reggie Williams 3-pointer that put the Warriors ahead 96-92 by sucking in Green from the opposite corner. And after Kevin Durant hit a pair of free throws with 42 seconds remaining afterward, Curry set up the game-clinching bucket by blowing by Durant and dishing off to David Lee for an uncontested dunk that put the Warriors back up by four with 21.2 seconds left to play.

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Darnell Mayberry grew up in Langston, Okla. and is now in his third stint in the Sooner state. After a year and a half at Bishop McGuinness High, he finished his prep years in Falls Church, Va., before graduating from Norfolk State University in...